In the Cowboys’ offensive scheme, Callahan categorizes screen passes, passes
out to the flat to running backs and short, check-down passes as “run-type
touches.”

“I think they’re an extension of the running game,” Callahan said. “Anytime
you check the ball down, you can consider it a run. They’re huge.”

Now, before you roll your eyes or cry, know this, too: Callahan isn’t saying
that as an excuse for the Cowboys’ lack of production in the running game.

In fact, Callahan said Thursday that the Cowboys must not only be more
efficient in the running game but also need to call more running plays.

“We’ve got to do a better job. I’ve got to do a better job calling more
runs,” Callahan said. “That’s something we’re working hard on.”

The Cowboys didn’t hand the ball off to a running back over the last 17
minutes of Sunday’s loss at Kansas City, finishing with 19 consecutive plays
that Tony Romo was looking to pass the football (he scrambled for a 4-yard gain
early in the fourth quarter and was sacked two plays later).

That’s not even balance in Callahan’s world. Callahan said the Cowboys track
their pass-to-run ratio throughout the game.

“We’re looking at it closely and again we just felt that there were some real
matchups that we liked,” Callahan said.

“And that’s the way it played out. When it doesn’t play out, that’s part of
the job and I shoulder that. I don’t shun responsibility whatsoever, but going
forward we’re trying to put together a run game plan we can all be proud of and
we can like and hopefully get to that balance we’re looking for.”

Callahan was asked Thursday if he’s any different than he was during his
pass-happy days with the Raiders. He spent six seasons in Oakland, the first
four as the offensive coordinator under then-coach Jon Gruden.

“We weren’t pass-happy,” Callahan said. “We led the league in rushing in
2000. We weren’t pass-happy even the year we went to the Super Bowl.”

Gruden brought up Callahan on Monday Night Football during the Cincinnati-Pittsburgh game
when talking about Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton’s 32 first-half pass
attempts.

“When I left the Oakland Raiders, I watched Bill Callahan take over for me,”
Gruden said on ESPN. “I don’t think he ran the ball one time. He says, ‘Gruden,
why do you want me to run it?’ He says, ‘Everything is a 2- or 1-yard gain.
Let’s throw it every snap.’”

Told about Gruden’s comment Thursday, Callahan said he doesn’t like to throw
short passes more than he likes to run the football.

“I’m never going to make that statement,” Callahan said. “We want to run the
football. We are just saying that [short passes] are another way to do it.

“A lot of people throw bubble screens, throw quick screens to the perimeter.
That’s very much run-like in a lot of different ways.”

Kansas City on Sunday used a lot of eight-man fronts against the Cowboys to
force Romo to pass. Wide receiver Dez Bryant saw more one-on-one coverage than
he’s seen in a while.

The Cowboys threw Bryant’s way 13 times. Running back DeMarco Murray finished
with only 12 carries for 25 yards.

Through two games, Dallas is averaging only 62 rushing yards. That hasn’t
been good enough to allow the Cowboys to get to their play-action passing game
they want to use more this season.

Romo said Callahan has called more running plays and that he’s switched to
passing plays at the line of scrimmage based on defensive looks.

“It’d be silly just to run the ball to where you can’t block an extra guy,”
Romo said. “You take what they give you, and you have to adjust from there.

“We’d like to run the ball more and we’d like to run it better. It just makes
everyone’s job easier if you can run the ball effectively.”

The Cowboys’ run game hasn’t threatened defenses enough to have safeties
charging toward the line of scrimmage on run-fakes.

Callahan added that some of the no-huddle offense the Cowboys have used has
dictated passing the ball more than running.

“It may take 40 passes, it may take 40 runs,” Callahan said. “We’ll do
whatever we have to do to win the game. I think it will balance out in the
end.”

To post a comment, log into your chosen social network and then add your comment below. Your comments are subject to our Terms of Service and the privacy policy and terms of service of your social network. If you do not want to comment with a social network, please consider writing a letter to the editor.